Safety ignition key holder



Oct. 11, 1949. c. BISHOP SAFETY IGNITION KEY HOLDER Filed Sept. 25, 194.6

R m m w W .M 1 b 1 yo ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 25, 1946, Serial No. 699,151

. 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to keyholding devices, and aims to provide a novel form of keyholder design embodyingimproved features for allowing use of the key and thereafter automatically retracting the key into the holder for safekeepingh 1 It is one special object of the invention to provide a novel keyholder construction of the character indicated which is particularly adapted for use with keys such as ignition switch keys and designed to safeguard against the inadvertent leaving of the key in the switch assembly.

Accordingly I have devised an efficient and improved keyholder device in which the key is held normally inside the holder by yielding means adapted to permit the key to be projected outside the holder in position for use in the switch and thereafter operating automatically to retract the key back into the holder on completion of the operation of the key for turning off the switch.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an extremely simple and compact device of neat and attractive appearance and adapted to .be made at small cost from relatively inexpensive materials.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one satisfactory form of construction which has been devised for the embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations Which are deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure l is a plan view of a keyholder device constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the key retracted into enclosed position within the holder, the dotted lines representing the key swung into outwardly projecting relation for a purpose hereinafter referred to;

Figure 2 is a side view, in a plane at right angles to the plane of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, representing a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on a slightly larger scale, illustrating the key as in outwardly projecting position and inserted into an ignition switch preparatory to turning of the latter; and

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view, representing the key as having been given a quarter turn for operating the ignition switch.

Many forms of keycases or keyholders are in common use, which protect the key when not in actual use and also permit the key to be moved or projected outside the holder when necessary to make use of the same. The ignition switch keys of automobiles, whether these are carried in keyholder-s or in entirely detached relation, are often carelessly or inadvertently left in the isnition switch, which is objectionable for numerous reasons, an important objection being that this leaves the automobile an easy and tempting prey for use of the car by some unauthorized person. It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a convenient and eflicient holder device for such keys in particular, which will properly safeguard against leaving them in switchoperating position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, this illustrates a, construction comprising a cylindrical tube or case H? which may be constructed of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or like material having sufficiently rigid properties to serve as the body of the holder. The diameter of the tube I0 will preferably be just sufiicient to enclose the shank portion l2 of the key, while the handle or head portion M of the key is allowed to project out through a pair of longitudinal slots l6 formed on opposite sides of the tube I0 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

To the opening l8 in the head of the key is attached one end of a coil spring 20, the other end of which is attached to the eye of a screw 24 which is threaded into a .ball element 26 of sufficient diameter for providing retaining engagement with the unslotted end of the tube or case II].

By means of the foregoing construction it will be seen that the spring connection 20 serves to hold the key in normally retracted position, or enclosed within the holder tube l0, and that the head portion l4 of the key is thereby held normally in abutting engagement with the inner ends of the slots It, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

When desired to make use of the key, as by insertion of the same into an ignition switch, the key may be projected by engaging its exposed head portion and forcing it outward, which enables the shank l2 of the key to be projected and inserted into the opening 30 of the ignition switch 32, as shown in Figure 4. After turning the key for operating the switch as illustrated in Figure 5, the shank of the key is of course held and retained within the switch, and at the same time the action of the spring 20 operates to maintain the slotted end of the tube Ill in engagement with the outer face of the switch. However, on reversing the movement of the key as required for turning off the switch, as soon as the key is released it is instantly retracted by the action of said spring into its initial position within the tube or case I0, as represented in Figures 1 to 3.

With this construction, therefore, it is apparent that the key is automatically disengaged from the switch so that it can not be inadvertently left in the switch at any time after the switch has been turned off. However, if it should be desired to leave the key, intentionally, in the switch in its inoperative position, such result may be accomplished by leaving" the key in its retracted position and turning the tube at an angle to the key, so that the shank of the key is swung entirely to one side of the slotted end of the-tube, intwhichposition the key may be used without'subjecting it to the retracting action of thespring, as represented by the dotted line position: in Figure 1, v

of the drawing.

It will therefore be apparent that I have -de' What I claim is:

A keyholder construction comprising a slotted tubular casing, a key normally enclosed by said casing and projectable therefrom into operative position, said key having the head portion thereof extending through the slotted portion of the casing to prevent relative rotative movement of the key and casing, and means acting automatically on release of the key from its operative position to retract'the same withinjthe casing, said key having a pivotal connection with said retracting means to permit swinging of the key, when in its retracted position, into outward angularly projecting relation to said casing. l 5

EDWARD C. BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,509 Mauthner July 22, 1889 1,745,836 Miller et a1 Feb. 4, 1930 2,076,895 Johnston Apr. 13, 1937 Hendrix Jan. 22, 1946 

